U.S. patent application number 15/117378 was filed with the patent office on 2017-01-26 for microfluidic chip and real-time analysis device using same.
The applicant listed for this patent is NANOBIOSYS INC.. Invention is credited to Jae Young BYUN, Duck Joong KIM, Sung Woo KIM.
Application Number | 20170021354 15/117378 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53778214 |
Filed Date | 2017-01-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170021354 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KIM; Sung Woo ; et
al. |
January 26, 2017 |
MICROFLUIDIC CHIP AND REAL-TIME ANALYSIS DEVICE USING SAME
Abstract
The present invention relates to a microfluidic chip and a
real-time analysis device using same, and more specifically, to a
microfluidic chip and a real-time analysis device using same
capable of securing reliability of measurement results by
appropriately preventing reduction of optical signal sensitivity
due to bubbles included in a fluid. According to one embodiment of
the present invention, the microfluidic chip is provided. The
microfluidic chip comprises: at least one reaction chamber which
comprises at least one optical measuring area, and in which a
random reaction of a fluid received therein takes place; and a
bubble eliminating portion comprising a light transmitting material
which protrudes from an the inner surface of an upper part of the
microfluidic chip toward the inside of the reaction chamber, to
prevent bubbles included in the fluid from being included in the
optical measuring area.
Inventors: |
KIM; Sung Woo; (Seoul,
KR) ; BYUN; Jae Young; (Anyang-si, Gyeonggi-do,
KR) ; KIM; Duck Joong; (Anyang-si, Gyeonggi-do,
KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
NANOBIOSYS INC. |
Seoul |
|
KR |
|
|
Family ID: |
53778214 |
Appl. No.: |
15/117378 |
Filed: |
February 9, 2015 |
PCT Filed: |
February 9, 2015 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/KR2015/001292 |
371 Date: |
August 8, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B01L 2300/0627 20130101;
G01N 21/6428 20130101; B01L 2300/12 20130101; B01L 7/52 20130101;
B01L 2200/10 20130101; B01L 2200/0684 20130101; B01L 2300/0809
20130101; B01L 3/502723 20130101; B01L 3/5025 20130101; B01L
2300/0887 20130101; G01N 21/6486 20130101; G01N 2021/054
20130101 |
International
Class: |
B01L 3/00 20060101
B01L003/00; G01N 21/64 20060101 G01N021/64; B01L 7/00 20060101
B01L007/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 10, 2014 |
KR |
10-2014-0015118 |
Claims
1-9. (canceled)
10. A microfluidic chip comprising: an upper part; a bottom part;
and at least one reaction chamber situated between the upper part
and the bottom part, the reaction chamber intended to hold a fluid
and having an optical measuring area; and wherein: the upper part
comprises a bubble-eliminating portion made of a light-transmitting
material, and the bubble-eliminating portion protrudes toward the
interior of the reaction chamber and is intended to prevent bubbles
in said fluid from residing in the optical measuring area of the
reaction chamber.
11. The microfluidic chip according to claim 10, wherein the
bubble-eliminating portion is located in an optical path between a
light-emitting module and a light-detecting module for detecting
optical signals in said fluid.
12. The microfluidic chip according to claim 10, wherein the
microfluidic chip is partially made of a light-transmitting
material.
13. The microfluidic chip according to claim 12, wherein the
optical measuring area is at or near the center of the reaction
chamber and is made of a light-transmitting material.
14. The microfluidic chip according to claim 11, wherein: the
reaction chamber further comprises one or more optical measuring
areas, and the upper part further comprises one or more
bubble-eliminating portions, each corresponding to each of the one
or more optical measuring areas.
15. The microfluidic chip according to claim 11, wherein the
protruding end of the bubble-eliminating portion is spaced apart
from a bottom surface of the reaction chamber at a predetermined
interval.
16. The microfluidic chip according to claim 15, wherein the
bubble-eliminating portion comprises: a flat surface disposed in
the middle of the bubble-eliminating portion; and an inclined
surface connected with a bottom side of the upper part of the
microfluidic chip.
17. The microfluidic chip according to claim 15, wherein the
bubble-eliminating portion is in a cylindrical shape or a square
pillar shape.
18. The microfluidic chip according to claim 11, wherein the
bubble-eliminating portion comprises a first bubble-collecting part
which is hollowed from at least an area of the protruding end of
the bubble-eliminating portion.
19. The microfluidic chip according to claim 11, further comprising
a second bubble-collecting part which is hollowed from a bottom
side of the upper part of the microfluidic chip along at least some
of the circumference of the bubble-eliminating portion.
20. The microfluidic chip according to claim 11, wherein the bottom
part is a plate having a flat-plate shape and the upper part is a
plate having a flat-plate shape.
21. The microfluidic chip according to claim 20, wherein the bottom
part plate is made of a material selected from the group consisting
of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), cyclo-olefin copolymer (COC),
polymethylmetharcylate (PMMA), polycarbonate (PC), polypropylene
carbonate (PPC), polyether sulfone (PES), polyethylene
terephthalate (PET), or a combination thereof.
22. The microfluidic chip according to claim 20, wherein the upper
part plate is made of made of a material selected from the group
consisting of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), cyclo-olefin copolymer
(COC), polymethylmetharcylate (PMMA), polycarbonate (PC),
polypropylene carbonate (PPC), polyether sulfone (PES),
polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or a combination thereof.
23. The microfluidic chip according to claim 20, further comprising
a middle plate that houses the at least one reaction chamber of the
microfluidic chip and is sandwiched between the upper part plate
and the bottom part plate.
24. The microfluidic chip according to claim 23, wherein the middle
plate is made of thermoplastic resin or thermosetting resin
selected from the group consisting of polymethylmetharcylate
(PMMA), polycarbonate (PC), cyclo-olefin copolymer (COC), polyamide
(PA), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyphenylene ether
(PPE), polystyrene (PS), polyoxymethylene (POM),
polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE),
polyvinylchloride (PVC), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF),
polybutyleneterephthalate (PBT), fluorinated ethylenepropylene
(FEP), perfluoralkoxyalkane (PFA), or a combination thereof.
25. The microfluidic chip according to claim 23, wherein: the upper
part plate and the middle plate are bonded by thermal shrinking,
thermosonic bonding, ultraviolet bonding, solvent bonding, tape
lamination, or a combination thereof, and/or the middle plate and
the bottom part plate are bonded by thermal shrinking, thermosonic
bonding, ultraviolet bonding, solvent bonding, tape lamination, or
a combination thereof.
26. The microfluidic chip according to claim 23, wherein the bottom
part plate, the middle plate, and the bottom part plate,
individually, are partially made of a light-transmitting
material.
27. The microfluidic chip according to claim 20, wherein the upper
part plate further comprises an inlet and an outlet which are
respectively connected with both ends of the reaction chamber.
28. The microfluidic chip according to claim 27, wherein: the inlet
and the outlet each comprise a cover, and said fluid in the
reaction chamber is added through the inlet and discharged through
the outlet.
29. An analyzer comprising: a microfluidic chip according to claim
11; the light-emitting module; and the light-detecting module for
monitoring optical signals in said fluid in the reaction chamber in
real time.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a microfluidic chip and a
real-time analysis device using the same, and more specifically, to
a microfluidic chip and a real-time analysis device using the same
capable of preventing reduction of optical signal sensitivity due
to bubbles contained in a fluid, thereby securing reliability of
measurement results.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] A microfluidic chip functions to conduct various experiments
at once by letting a fluid flow out through a microfluidic channel.
In detail, after a microfluidic channel is manufactured using a
material, such as plastic, glass, silicon, and so on, a fluid, for
instance, a liquid sample, is moved through such a channel, and
then, mixing, separation, refinement, reaction and analysis are
executed in a plurality of chambers inside the microfluidic chip.
Because various experiments which were conventionally executed in a
laboratory are executed in the small chip, the microfluidic chip is
also called "lab-on-a-chip".
[0003] The microfluidic chip can create cost and time reduction
effects in the fields of pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medicines
and so on, and enhance accuracy, efficiency and reliability. For
instance, compared with the conventional methods, the microfluidic
chip can remarkably reduce the usage of protein and expensive
reagents used for DNA analysis so as to show reduction effect of
considerable expenses. Moreover, the microfluidic chip uses fewer
amounts of protein samples or cell samples than the conventional
methods, thereby reducing waste of samples.
[0004] In the meantime, the fluid used in the microfluidic chip may
generate bubbles by micro cavities or pinholes formed inside the
microfluidic chip while a reactive fluid, such as a sample reagent
or a specimen, is injected. Particularly, the polymerase chain
reaction (PCR) is executed using the microfluidic chip, the PCR
accompanies a heat supply step, when the fluid is heated, the
volume of small bubbles generated during injection is expanded to
grow into bubbles of a larger size or a plurality of the small
bubbles are joined together into one big bubble, so that a large
quantity of bubbles are generated inside the fluid. If such bubbles
are located in an optical measuring area, they may be a main cause
to reduce optical signal sensitivity of a reaction product.
Furthermore, if the bubbles move irregularly, it may cause decrease
in reliability of the optical signal.
[0005] Referring to FIG. 1, optical signal sensitivity is decreased
due to bubbles contained in the fluid during the process of
reaction inside a conventional microfluidic chip. That is, because
the miniaturized microfluidic chip has a space of a reaction
chamber which is small for the size and the number of bubbles
generated, there is high probability that the generated bubbles are
located above any optical measuring area arranged in the reaction
chamber. Additionally, as shown in FIG. 1, if bubbles are located
inside the optical measuring area, the bubbles lower sensitivity of
the optical signal because blocking the optical signal emitted from
the reaction product.
[0006] Therefore, in order to realize miniaturization of the
reaction chamber like the microfluidic chip, solutions to the
problems arising from reduction and ununiformity of optical signal
sensitivity in order to secure reliability of measurement results
are required.
DISCLOSURE
Technical Problem
[0007] Accordingly, the present invention has been made in an
effort to solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior
arts, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a
microfluidic chip and a real-time analysis device using the same
capable of preventing reduction of optical signal sensitivity due
to bubbles contained in a fluid using a bubble-eliminating portion
of a predetermined shape, thereby securing reliability of
measurement results.
Technical Solution
[0008] To achieve the above objects, the present invention provides
a microfluidic chip including: at least one reaction chamber in
which any reaction to a fluid is executed and which includes at
least one optical measuring area; and a bubble-eliminating portion
which is made a light transmitting material and protrudes from an
inner face of an upper part of the microfluidic chip toward the
inside of the reaction chamber, in order to prevent bubbles
contained in the fluid from interfering with the optical
measuring.
[0009] Preferably, the bubble-eliminating portion is upwardly
spaced apart from the bottom surface of the reaction chamber at a
predetermined interval.
[0010] Moreover, preferably, the bubble-eliminating portion
includes: a flat surface disposed in the middle of the
bubble-eliminating portion; and an inclined surface connected with
the inner face of the upper part of the microfluidic chip.
[0011] Furthermore, preferably, the bubble-eliminating portion
includes a bubble collecting portion which is hollowed from at
least an area of the bottom surface of the bubble-eliminating
portion.
[0012] Additionally, preferably, the bubble-eliminating portion
further includes a bubble collecting portion which is hollowed from
the inner face of the upper part of the microfluidic chip along at
least some of the circumference of the bubble-eliminating
portion.
[0013] In addition, preferably, the microfluidic chip includes: a
first plate of a flat type; a second plate of a flat type which is
arranged on the first plate and has the reaction chamber; and a
third plate which is arranged on the second plate and has the
bubble-eliminating portion. Moreover, preferably, the third plate
comprises an inlet and an outlet. The inlet and outlet are
respectively connected with both ends of the reaction chamber.
[0014] Furthermore, preferably, at least some of the microfluidic
chip is made of a plastic material with light transmitting
property.
[0015] According to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, an analyzer is provided. The analyzer includes: the
microfluidic chip; and an optical detection module which irradiates
light to the microfluidic chip and detects an optical signal
emitted from an optical measuring area of the microfluidic chip in
order to measure reaction products contained in a reaction chamber
in real time.
Advantageous Effects
[0016] As described above, the microfluidic chip according to the
present invention can rapidly and accurately measure lots of
reaction products of a small quantity at the same time without any
problem arising from reduction and ununiformity of optical signal
sensitivity in spite of microminiaturization of the microfluidic
chip.
[0017] The microfluidic chip according to the present invention can
effectively preclude formation of bubbles, which are contained in
the fluid, out of the optical measuring area just by the structure
formed inside the microfluidic chip.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a view showing the phenomenon that an optical
signal is reduced by bubbles contained in a fluid inside a
microfluidic chip according to a prior art.
[0019] FIG. 2 is a view showing the basic configuration and the
bubble elimination principle of a microfluidic chip according to a
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the configuration of the
microfluidic chip according to the preferred embodiment of the
present invention.
[0021] FIG. 4 is a photofluorogram of the microfluidic chip
according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0022] FIGS. 5 to 7 illustrate various embodiments of a
bubble-eliminating portion of the microfluidic chip according to
the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0023] FIGS. 8a and 8b are comparative examples showing measurement
results of reaction products executed using the microfluidic chip
according to the prior art, which has no bubble-eliminating
portion, and the microfluidic chip according to the present
invention.
MODE FOR INVENTION
[0024] Hereinafter, reference will be now made in detail to the
preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to the
attached drawings. In the description of the present invention,
when it is judged that detailed descriptions of known functions or
structures related with the present invention may make the
essential points vague, the detailed descriptions of the known
functions or structures will be omitted. Hereinafter, exemplary
embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.
However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments
disclosed below, but can be implemented in various forms by those
skilled in the art.
[0025] Moreover, in the drawings, parts having similar functions
and actions have the same reference numerals. In the description of
the present invention, to connect some part with another part means
that some part is directly connected with another part and that
some part is indirectly connected with another part through an
element. Furthermore, unless otherwise defined herein, to include a
component does not mean that the mortise lock excludes other
component but means that the mortise lock can include other
components more.
[0026] FIG. 2 is a view showing the basic configuration and the
bubble-eliminating principle of a microfluidic chip according to a
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0027] Referring to FIG. 2, the microfluidic chip according to the
preferred embodiment of the present invention includes: a reaction
chamber 210 which executes a reaction; and a bubble-eliminating
portion 220 protruding from an inner face of an upper part of the
microfluidic chip 200 toward the inside of the reaction chamber
210.
[0028] The reaction chamber 210 accommodates a fluid 30, such as a
sample reagent or a specimen, therein in order to execute a
reaction adequate for an experiment purpose, and includes at least
one optical measuring area 212. Here, the optical measuring area
212 may be defined as a target area on the reaction chamber 210 in
which an optical signal 20 emitted from a reaction product is
detected in order to measure results of a reaction executed inside
the reaction chamber 210 in real time.
[0029] In this instance, the reaction chamber 210 must be suitable
for executing a reaction serving an experimental purpose, and
especially, the microfluidic chip 200 in which PCR is executed must
be implemented not to be influenced by repeated heating and cooling
during the PCR process. Therefore, the microfluidic chip 200 is not
restricted by specific shapes and/or materials if it can maintain
such a function. However, because the microfluidic chip 200
according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention
premises a real time optical signal measurement of the reaction
product, it is preferable that at least a portion which is
overlapped with the route of the optical signal 20 emitted from the
optical measuring area 212 be made of a light transmitting
material.
[0030] The bubble-eliminating portion 220 is to prevent bubbles 10
contained in a fluid 30 from interfering with the optical measuring
area 212. As shown in FIG. 2, the bubble-eliminating portion 220
may have a predetermined shape formed by protruding from the inner
face of the upper part of the microfluidic chip 200 to the inside
of the reaction chamber 210. At least a part of the
bubble-eliminating portion 220 passes through the surface of the
fluid 30 and is spaced apart from the bottom surface of the
reaction chamber 210 at a predetermined interval to be submerged
under the fluid 30. Additionally, the bubble-eliminating portion
220 may have one of various protruding shapes, but it is preferable
to be formed in a cylindrical shape or a square pillar shape. In
this instance, the bubble-eliminating portion 220 is made of a
light transmitting material, and at least a part of the
bubble-eliminating portion 220 may be included in the optical
measuring area 212. Therefore, the optical signal 20 generated from
the reaction product inside the optical measuring area 212 passes
the bubble-eliminating portion 22, and then, is emitted out of the
microfluidic chip 200.
[0031] As described above, the bubble-eliminating portion 220
prevents bubbles 10 inside the fluid 30 from interfering with
optical measuring area 212 so as to increase optical signal
sensitivity. In detail, because some of the bubble-eliminating
portion 220 having the predetermined shape is located in the state
where it is submerged under the fluid 30, the bubbles 10 included
in the fluid 30 are pushed to spaces around the optical measuring
area 212 by buoyancy of the bubbles 10 to rise above the fluid 30.
Therefore, the bubbles 10 deviate from the emission route of the
optical signal 20 emitted from the reaction product existing on the
optical measuring area 212, and do not have any influence on
optical signal sensitivity required to measure the reaction product
in real time.
[0032] Therefore, if the reaction product inside the reaction
chamber 210 is measured in real time using the microfluidic chip 20
according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
microfluidic chip according to the present invention can rapidly
and accurately measure lots of reaction products of a small
quantity at the same time while there is little adverse influence
by the bubbles 10 generated inside the reaction chamber 210 in
spite of microminiaturization of the microfluidic chip 200.
[0033] FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the configuration of the
microfluidic chip according to the preferred embodiment of the
present invention.
[0034] Referring to FIG. 3, the microfluidic chip 200 according to
the preferred embodiment of the present invention may include at
least one reaction chamber 210. FIG. 3 illustrates two reaction
chambers 210, but the microfluidic chip 200 according to the
present invention may include two or more reaction chambers 210
according to the use purpose and scope of the microfluidic chip
200. In the meantime, as shown in FIG. 3, the reaction chamber 210
is bent in the form of the letter `U` at the central area in such a
way that both ends of the reaction chamber 210 are located on the
same vertical line. In this instance, the bubble-eliminating
portion 220 and the optical measuring area 212 are located on the
bent central area of the reaction chamber 210. FIG. 3 illustrates
the form of the reaction chamber and the locations of the
bubble-eliminating portion 220 and the optical measuring area 212
on the reaction chamber 210, but they are not restricted to the
above and may be varied according to embodiments of the present
invention.
[0035] Referring to FIG. 3, the configuration of the microfluidic
chip 200 according to the preferred embodiment of the present
invention will be described in more detail. The microfluidic chip
200 includes: a first plate 230 of a flat type; a second plate 240
of a flat type which is arranged on the first plate 230 and has the
reaction chamber 210; and a third plate 250 which is arranged on
the second plate 240 and has the bubble-eliminating portion
220.
[0036] The first plate 230 is formed in a flat type and serves as a
floor support of the microfluidic chip 200 according to the
preferred embodiment of the present invention. The first plate 230
may be made of various materials, and preferably, is made of a
material selected from the group consisting of polydimethylsiloxane
(PDMS), cyclo-olefin copolymer (COC), polymethylmetharcylate
(PMMA), polycarbonate (PC), polypropylene carbonate (PPC),
polyether sulfone (PES), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and a
combination thereof. According to embodiments, at least a part of
the first plate 230 may be made of a light transmitting material.
Moreover, according to embodiments, the surface of the first plate
230 may be treated to have hydrophilic surface property. In this
instance, the hydrophilic substance includes various materials, and
preferably, includes a material selected from the group consisting
of carboxyl group (--COOH), amine group (--NH2), hydroxyl group
(--OH), and sulfone group (--SH). The treatment of the hydrophilic
substance is conducted in a manner known in the art.
[0037] The second plate 240 is arranged on the first plate 230 and
serves to form the reaction chamber 210 of the microfluidic chip
200. The second plate 240 may be made of various materials, and
preferably, it is made of thermoplastic resin or thermosetting
resin selected from the group consisting of polymethylmetharcylate
(PMMA), polycarbonate (PC), cyclo-olefin copolymer (COC), polyamide
(PA), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyphenylene ether
(PPE), polystyrene (PS), polyoxymethylene (POM),
polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE),
polyvinylchloride (PVC), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF),
polybutyleneterephthalate (PBT), fluorinated ethylenepropylene
(FEP), perfluoralkoxyalkane (PFA), and a combination thereof.
According to embodiments, at least a part of the second plate 240
may be made of a light transmitting material. In the meantime,
according to embodiments, the inner wall of the second plate 240
may be coated with a material like silane group, bovine serum
albumin (BSA) and so on, so as to prevent protein from being
absorbed thereonto. The treatment of the material is conducted in a
manner known in the art.
[0038] The third plate 250 is arranged on the second plate 240 and
serves as a cover for covering the reaction chamber 210. The
bubble-eliminating portion 220 located on the bottom surface of the
third plate 250 is formed to protrude toward the inside of the
reaction chamber 210. The third plate 250 may be made of various
materials, and preferably, is made of a material selected from the
group consisting of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), cyclo-olefin
copolymer (COC), polymethylmetharcylate (PMMA), polycarbonate (PC),
polypropylene carbonate (PPC), polyether sulfone (PES),
polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and a combination thereof.
[0039] According to embodiments, at least a part of the third plate
250 may be made of a light transmitting material. In the meantime,
the third plate 250 includes an inlet 251 and an outlet 252 which
are respectively connected with both ends of the reaction chamber
210. A sample reagent or a specimen for executing a reaction is
injected through the inlet 251, and the fluid 30 is discharged out
through the outlet 252 after the reaction is finished. According to
embodiments, the inlet 251 and the outlet 252 may include covering
means (not shown) in order to prevent a solution leak when the
reaction to the fluid 30 is executed inside the reaction chamber
210. Such covering means may be manufactured in various shapes and
sizes and made of various materials.
[0040] Meanwhile, according to embodiments, the first plate 230,
the second plate 240 and the third plate 250 which are formed
individually are bonded mutually, or two of the three plates 230,
240 and 250 are formed integrally and the other one is bonded to
the two plates. For instance, the first plate 230 and the second
plate 240 are formed integrally and the third plate 250 is bonded
to the first and second plates, or the second plate 240 and the
third plate 250 are formed integrally and the first plate 230 is
bonded to the second and third plates. In this instance, the first
plate 230, the second plate 240 and the third plate 250 may be
bonded together by various methods for bonding which are applicable
in the relevant field, such as thermal shrinking, thermosonic
bonding, ultraviolet bonding, solvent bonding, tape lamination and
so on.
[0041] FIG. 4 is a photofluorogram of the microfluidic chip
according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0042] As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of the reaction chambers 210
are formed on the microfluidic chip 200 according to the preferred
embodiment of the present invention in order to measure a plurality
of reaction products at the same time. Moreover, the optical
measuring area 212 and the bubble-eliminating portion 220 which is
arranged inside the optical measuring area 212 are located at some
area of each reaction chamber 210, preferably, at the bent central
area of the reaction chamber 210.
[0043] Referring to FIG. 4, the bubbles 10 contained inside the
reaction chamber 210 are effectively eliminated from each optical
measuring area 212 by the bubble-eliminating portion 220 existing
in the optical measuring area 212 of each reaction chamber 210. In
other words, the bubbles 10 are moved to the spaces around the
optical measuring area 212 so as to deviate from the emission route
of the optical signal 20 emitted from the optical measuring area
212.
[0044] As described above, the microfluidic chip 200 according to
the preferred embodiment of the present invention can secure
reliability of the measurement results to the reaction products
because being not affected by the bubbles 10 generated inside the
reaction chamber 210.
[0045] FIGS. 5 to 7 illustrate various embodiments of a
bubble-eliminating portion of the microfluidic chip according to
the preferred embodiment of the present invention. In the meantime,
for convenience in description, FIGS. 5 to 7 illustrate only the
bubble-eliminating portion and some of the microfluidic chip having
the bubble-eliminating portion.
[0046] First, referring to FIG. 5(a), the bubble-eliminating
portion 520 includes: a flat surface disposed in the middle of the
bubble-eliminating portion 520; and an inclined surface connected
with the inner face of the upper part of the microfluidic chip. As
described above, if the side of the bubble-eliminating portion 520
is the inclined surface, the bubbles 10 move upward from the
reaction chamber along the inclined surface so as to more easily
move toward the spaces around the optical measuring area 512. In
this instance, as shown in FIG. 5(b), the optical measuring area
512 may be an area on the reaction chamber on which the flat
surface of the bubble-eliminating portion 520 is located so that
the bubbles 10 are not contained.
[0047] Furthermore, referring to FIG. 6(a), the bubble-eliminating
portion 620 may include a bubble collecting portion 622 which is
hollowed from at least an area of the bottom surface, namely, at
least an area of a portion adjacent to the bottom surface. Because
the surface of the portion where the bubble collecting portion 622
is formed is located higher inside the reaction chamber than a
portion where the bubble collecting portion 622 is not formed, as
shown in FIG. 6(b), the bubbles 10 pushed out of the central
portion of the bubble-eliminating portion 620 can be collected on
the bubble collecting portion 622. In this instance, as shown in
FIG. 6(b), the optical measuring area 612 may be an area on the
reaction chamber on which the portion of the bubble-eliminating
portion 620 where the bubble collecting portion 622 is not formed
is located.
[0048] In the meantime, as shown in FIG. 7, the bubble collecting
portion 722 may be formed along the circumference of the
bubble-eliminating portion 720. That is, the bubble collecting
portion 722 may be formed to be hollowed from the inner face of the
upper part of the microfluidic chip toward the upward direction
along at least some of the circumference of the protruding
bubble-eliminating portion 720. In this instance, not shown in FIG.
7, but similarly with the description referring to FIG. 6, the
bubbles 10 pushed out by the bubble-eliminating portion 720 are
collected on the bubble collecting portion 722 which is
hollowed.
[0049] Meanwhile, according to an embodiment of the present
invention, an analyzer may be provided. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3,
the analyzer includes: the microfluidic chip 200 according to the
embodiment of the present invention; and an optical detection
module. The optical detection module is a device to irradiate light
to the microfluidic chip 200 and detect an optical signal 20
emitted from the optical measuring area 212. Various optical
detection modules applicable in the technical fields to which the
present invention belongs can be used. For instance, the optical
detection module includes: a light source arranged to supply light
to the reaction chamber 210 of the microfluidic chip 200; and an
optical detecting part arranged to receive light emitted from the
reaction chamber 210. The light source and the optical detecting
part are arranged across the reaction chamber 210 from each other
(transmission type) or are all arranged in one direction of the
reaction chamber 210 (reflection type).
[0050] FIGS. 8a and 8b are comparative examples showing measurement
results of reaction products executed using the microfluidic chip
according to the prior art, which has no bubble-eliminating
portion, and the microfluidic chip according to the present
invention.
[0051] In detail, samples and reagents for PCR were injected into
the conventional microfluidic chip which had no bubble-eliminating
means and the microfluidic chip 200 implemented according to FIG.
3, and then, PCR was executed. Nucleic acid amplification results
were measured through the optical detection module while PCR was
executed, and the results were checked through a graph on real-time
PCR results (X-axis is the number of cycles, and Y-axis is
fluorescence).
[0052] FIG. 8a illustrates real-time PCR measurement results using
the conventional microfluidic chip which has no bubble-eliminating
means, and FIG. 8b illustrates real-time PCR measurement results
using the microfluidic chip 200 according to the present invention.
As shown in FIGS. 8a and 8b, when real-time PCR was executed using
the microfluidic chip 200 according to the present invention,
differently from the conventional microfluidic chip generating lots
of noise, the microfluidic chip 200 according to the present
invention could effectively eliminate noise included in the
detected optical signal.
[0053] As described above, the optimum embodiments have been shown
and described in the drawings and in the specification. Here,
specific terms have been used, but the terms are not used to limit
the meanings or restrict the technical scope of the present
invention described in the claims but are just used to describe the
present invention. Therefore, it will be understood by those of
ordinary skill in the art that various changes, modifications and
equivalents may be made therein without departing from the spirit
and scope of the present invention as defined by the following
claims.
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